Canada’s Future Showcase becomes a destination Achi-News

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays Canadian Futures Showcase has become a destination for young baseball prospects and scouts alike.

Hosted by the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy at the Rogers Centre, the three-day tournament brings together 161 players from across Canada to showcase their skills to Major League Baseball scouts and US college recruiters. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the showcase has become one of the most important showcases of amateur baseball talent in North America.

“I mean, for events in Canada, this is the one, right?” said outfielder Philip Cheong of Richmond Hill, Ont. “Every year you have to look forward to this event at the Rogers Centre.

“You have to prepare yourself more mentally than physically and just prepare to be excited.”

Cheong, 17 years old, who plays his club ball with the Ontario Blue Jays, has already committed to play for Stanford University. Although his collegiate future was set, Cheong could not miss playing in the tournament for the third time.

“It’s a great opportunity to represent the Toronto Blue Jays, to represent my organization and my country,” Cheong said after his team finished its first of two games on Wednesday. “My third year coming back, it’s all about the eyes that are going to be on you.”

Tournament director TJ Burton said about 50 scouts were in attendance at the soccer park in downtown Toronto, the highest level ever. He also said it is likely the highest quality group of prospects the tournament has seen in its decade of existence.

“It’s definitely become one of those stepping stones,” Burton said on the lobby of the Rogers Center. “Your first goal is to make that travel ball team, and then I think it’s, you know, to play in the showcase, and then play with the junior national team, and then go to college, and finally he plays professionally. baseball.

“I think we’ve found our way into that kind of cycle.”

Since the Futures Showcase began in 2014, 126 alumni of the event have been drafted by MLB teams, including Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop of Brampton, Ont., Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Soroka of Calgary, and a trio Cleveland Guardians Josh and Bo Naylor of Mississauga, Ont., and Cade Smith of Abbotsford, BC

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It’s part of the continued evolution of amateur baseball in Canada, Burton said.

“Programs across the country are doing a very good job of developing players and working very hard and trying to make baseball more of a year-round sport,” Burton said. “Getting inside and training in the winter and playing fall ball and getting out early in the spring.

“I think that along with the work that the Blue Jays are doing, Baseball Canada is doing, and then around the programs across the country and how they’re really putting an emphasis on development is increasing the level of talent every year.”

Kory Lafreniere, the Blue Jays’ assistant director of amateur scouting, said the tournament is attracting more scouts from NCAA schools, American junior colleges, and Canadian universities.

“I think it raises the bar, and then raises the level of talent across the country,” Lafreniere said. “The better the talent level is overall, the more it will push each player.

“Raising the level of talent in Canadian baseball gives the players the opportunity to raise their own level of competition and compete against the best.”

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 18, 2024.

& copy 2024 The Canadian Press